Car & Driver Mag Claims BMW M3 To Be Better Than GT-R & 911 Turbo
June 4, 2008
Well, it had to happen sometime, just as the saying goes, what goes up, must come down and the GT-R and 911 Turbo have surely enjoyed their time at the top but the problem is, they didn’t loose, the world beyond the glossy papers of Car & Driver will testify to that.
But Car & Driver mag definitely did crown the BMW M3 King and I’m sure all of you have something to say about that. We didn’t get our hands on that particular issue of Car & Driver but they guys at AutoBlog did and this is what they had to say:
“Car & Driver is a common choice as bathroom reader around Autoblog HQ, though thumbing through the latest issue had us contemplating using the glossy pages for TP. C&D got its hands on Nissan’s new GT-R and its development benchmark, the Porsche 911 Turbo. That’s great so far, as everyone wants to know how the Nissan stacks up against its bogey. The trouble comes when a BMW M3 gets tossed into the mix. What? The M3 is a hell of a car and it clearly earns its perennial 10-Best status, but it’s outgunned and mismatched in this company. Somehow it managed to win a three-way comparo with two supercars anyway.
The explanation given was that the M3 attended as the “voice of reason” and gosh, just happened to be everyone’s favorite. It’s no great leap to imagine that the smallest, lightest car with sedan lineage would feel lighter on its feet and be a better everyday conveyance than two purpose built supercars. Thanks for the detective work, guys, but we think the M3 is a bit wide of the bullseye at which the GT-R and 911 were aimed. It’s long been grumbled that C&D is in cahoots with this automaker or that one (an accusation that’s been levied against every one of the big four major auto publications at one point or another), and the outcome of this comparo will surely fan those flames. We call foul on a few levels. The larger issue is the poppycock categories of “Fun to Drive” and the even more preposterous “Gotta Have It Factor” that arguably allow comparison results to be twisted one way or another, but also the reasoning for bringing the M3 knife to a big, turbocharged coupe gunfight is flawed. GT-R and 911 Turbo buyers don’t strike us as the type of folks who might cross shop the M3. They want a range-topper, not a segment-pole-sitter.
Here’s the real deal - ignoring the noise of the M3, the GT-R spanks the 911 Turbo on the track, while the Porsche feels like a more quality piece (at double the price, it’d better). While both cars sport AWD chassis that vector torque, the Nissan is quicker on its feet and dramaless where the Porsche is swinging wide. Both are a total hoot to drive, but the GT-R team definitely bested its development target as far as raw performance goes. Controversy will undoubtedly sell dead trees, though, and you can’t really blame an increasingly irrelevant buff book for trying to find a hook. Take pity - hit the link and share some traffic”.
Thats telling Car & Driver for you but just in case they didn’t get the point, make it loud and clear below.
Source: AutoBlog
Something is missing with the E92 M3. The power figures are somewhat similar to the E39 M5 except for the little heavyness of the M5.
it is un-fair judgement. M3, 911T and GTR. RWD competing with AWDs.
meaning? either these mags really believe the rwd, NA, lower HP n torque m3 is really a great car and is a benchmark, respected and worthy to be compared with the obvious FI’d and 4wd monsters!! or they really need to bash the m3.. makes u wonder.. for me, i believe the former.. else, they cud easily use the much faster c63 or audi rs4 instead of the m3..
just to give us a different perspective, why not pit the gtr with the veyron? or the ultima GTR? or the 300hp ariel atom? i’m pretty sure the godzilla and the 997 turbo would get spanked left and right! people say the GTR is half the price of a 997 turbo, check this, the atom is only half the price of the GTR..!
oh, i get it, they are not even in the same class!! duhh.. heheh
It’s a tragedy, a tragedy indeed to even mention the paltry German patsy M3 in the same breath as the Godzilla and a 911. Ole Ferdinand Porsche would be spinning in his grave (I’d say the same for the father of Nissan but i’m not sure who that is).
Just in case if anyone needs proof of Road & Track having biased reviews for a particular car manufacturer, there is an issue way back in 1998 or was it 1997 where they compared a Acura Integra GSR with a Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T and a brand spanking new Mercury Cougar. The Cougar won with it’s superior interior space, despite losing in the handling and performance categories. Shameful.
Interesting take you have there. While a GTR has two turbochargers to create it’s monstrous output, keep in mind the GTR will probably achieve better HP numbers in full tune and maintain reliability then compared with the M3, as it overly relies on an engine built to achieve Naturally Aspirated power - completely different by design to a turbo ready motor.
On track? Please the M3 wouldn’t even come close.
Nurburgring times:
BMW M3 E92 - 8:05
Nissan GTR - 7:38
Porsche 911 - 7:40
I think you can honestly admit that while the 911 and GTR will be off to the races the M3 will be going backwards or so it would seem.
The E92 M3 is also slower than it’s predecessor in CSL mode (Read: E46 M3 CSL 7:50)
just wish the e92 csl would be much, much better than the current m3.. cams, induction systems, exhaust, suspension, lower weight, brakes, DCT, etc..
e46 m3 - 8:22
e46 m3 csl - 7:50
e92 m3 - 8:05
e92 m3 csl - 7:35?? hehee, wishful thinking..
anyways, watch out for our own review of the GTR soon!
for those who worship the GOdzilla, i believe u have been well sold by the GTR emblem and of course its grunt power. but the fact that matters is, GTR is a machine ONLY KNOWN by you. u have to be Godzilla fan to love one, and i dont chicks will be able to tell what car it is. they will definitely love more the 350Z which is nice. but yeah, in the end, its u that gonna drive it. to hell with the others.
the bimmer and posh are a class of their own. big brand and well known stature is all there to be seen. brand wise, they gonna win hands down compare to little ‘nissan’ from japan. and they also flushed with great technologies and gizmos as the nissan.
the only thing godzilla fans will be able to hold on is the pure power the 35 has and they will brag about that timing in Nurburging for ever.
but the record lapping time….is it matters at all?
i dont think so even for a minute
no doubt it’s a legend, but a nissan no less.. gimme a Nissan GTR and i won’t complaint though..
but to buy one over other marque, i’d think twice..